DHL brings Internet of Things to the warehouse

13 June 2017

Collaboration with
Cisco and Conduce leverages Internet of Things technology for more agile supply
chain management and safer work practices.

DHL
Supply Chain, the contract logistics specialist within the Deutsche Post DHL
Group, forges ahead on its path of digitalisation by implementing Internet of
Things technology into warehousing to optimise operational efficiency, and lay
the foundations for safer work practices. Together with Cisco and start-up Conduce,
DHL is testing the technology at three pilot sites in Germany, the Netherlands
and Poland.

The
solution enables DHL to monitor operational activities in real-time through a
responsive graphical visualisation of operational data aggregated from sensors
on scanners and material handling equipment, and DHL’s warehouse management
system. Visualising operational data with heat maps has changed the way data is
analysed and used at the pilot sites, and is expected to contribute to
operational efficiencies and improve employee safety.

“I
am excited to be at the forefront of this innovative digital supply chain
solution. The ability to monitor operational activities in the warehouse in
real-time provides DHL the opportunity to proactively re-engineer processes.
This way we further enhance the service levels provided to our customers,
improve productivity, and provide a platform for our people to be safe in the
workplace,” says Paul Stone, CEO Africa and MD South Africa, DHL Supply Chain.

DHL customers benefit
with visualised operational data

“In
2015, DHL and Cisco published a joint Trend Report on the ‘Internet of Things
in Logistics’. Continuing jointly on the topic of digital transformation, we
are turning IoT into reality within the warehouse environment. This is made
possible by leveraging existing Cisco® Wi-Fi infrastructure within the
warehouse to obtain location services together with the Conduce solution,” says
Chris Dedicoat, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Field
Operations, Cisco.

DHL
customers will benefit from Cisco and Conduce’s industry expertise in Wi-Fi
infrastructure and operational data visualisation respectively. The pilot sites
have revealed valuable insights on activity peaks, warehouse layouts and
processes by displaying concentrations of pickers, and material handling
equipment against a backdrop of warehouse orders in real time.

“The
platform does not just display operational data, it unlocks insights on how
well warehouses are running by pulling together data of all elements in a
warehouse environment into one unified, engaging interface. Conduce helps
decision makers at DHL achieve improved, measurable results in the real world,”
says Kevin Parent, CEO, Conduce.

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